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Behavior Problems
Destructive Behavior
Digging
Self-mutilation
Fear of People or Noises
GSD Diseases
Degenerative Myelopathy
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Pannus
Nodular Dermatofibrosis
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German Shepherd Dog Health Problems - I
Part I lists inherited diseases most commonly found in the German Shepherd Dog breed which have a serious degenerative effect on the dog's health. Dogs that have history of these diseases in their ancestry should NOT be bred. Young dogs must undergo regular tests developed for a particular disease.
Hip Dysplasia
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip joint in which parts of the joint are abnormally shaped so that the ball does not fit properly into the socket. Over time, degenerative joint disease can result. The dogs may appear stiff when they walk and avoid jumping. Anti-inflammatory drugs may help to ease the pain. Surgery can reconstruct the dysplastic hip.
Nodular Dermatofibrosis - Inherited Skin Disorder
Nodular Dermatofibrosis is a health disease when lumps form on the dog's skin. These lumps can grow and, in severe cases, measuring from 0.1 to 2 inches on the feet, often ulcerate or cause foot deformities and lameness. This skin disorder is usually associated with underlying canine kidney or uterus cancer (in unspayed female dogs).
Degenerative myelopathy is a disorder of the spinal cord or bone marrow. It mostly affects older German Shepherds (between 6 to 9 years), but also has been reported in other breeds. Signs may include awkward gait and weakness in one of the hindlimbs. Prognosis for the degenerative myelopathy is poor since there is no known effective treatment for it.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is an inherited disease of the pancreas which is characterized by insuffucient production of digestive proteins; the pancreas simply is shriveled and useless. This condition may develop at any age (though usually shows up in dog younger than 4 years). German Shepherd dogs are at the highest risk. Signs may include chronic diarrhea (yellow feces), excessive appetite or eating, weight loss, and eating of excrements. The disease is diagnosed through tests. Signs usually disappear after administering of pancreatic enzyme supplement with porcine pancreatin powder.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a hereditary blood defect that is characterized by delayed clotting of the blood and failure in controlling bleeding even after small injuries. Signs may include excessive bleeding from the gums, when getting adult teeth, and bruises in the area of hindleg, the knee joint and the chest (as a result of a broken blood vessel), deep muscle bleeding, bloody diarrhea, and sudden death. Dogs with the history of hemophilia should NOT be bred.
Pannus or chronic superficial keratitis is a progressive eye disease characterized by a cloudiness of the cornea of the eye. It usually affects both eyes and is common in German Shepherd, Belgian Tervuren, Border Collie, Greyhound, Siberian Husky, and Australian Shepherd breeds. The pannus is treated with antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal agents when appropriate, tear replacement therapy (if the tear gland fails to produce enough moisture), and corticosteroids (if caused by the immune system disorders).
Panosteitis
Panosteitis is a disease of the bone marrow that affects mostly young dogs of large and giant breeds , but has been reported in dogs of 5 years of age. Males are affected more commonly than females. Signs include foreleg lameness, loss of appetite, low fever, and pain in long bones. The attack of the disease can last from 14 to 90 days. What causes the disease is still unknown. It is diagnosed through radiographic laboratory tests.
Perianal Fistula
Perianal fistula is a chronic inflammatory disease of the perianal tissues that is most often seen in the German Shepherd dog and Irish setter. The exact cause of the disease is still undetermined, but it is often associated with disorders of the immune system, bacterial infections, inflammation of the colon (colitis), and hormonal disorders. Signs include urge to evacuate the bowels or urinary bladder, constipation, loss of appetite, laziness, sluggishness, or indifference (lethargy), diarrhea, and attempts to bite and lick the anal area.Cyclosporin A has proven beneficial for the treatment of perianal fistulas in some dogs, but medication treatment is generally unsuccessful. In severe cases surgical treatment may help.
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